This article and accompanying webinar (in line with World Wellbeing week) focuses on raising awareness around a variety of areas linked to our overall wellbeing including emotional, physical, social, and the community aspects of our wellbeing. A variety of areas combine to make up our overall wellbeing and by looking after each of these specific areas, we can ensure our overall wellbeing is as good as it possibly can be. World wellbeing Week 2021 is from Monday 21st June to Wednesday 30th June and aims to heighten awareness of peoples overall wellbeing.
Our overall wellbeing
There are several different aspects that make up our overall wellbeing. The below tips can help to contribute to your overall wellbeing:
- Getting better rest – During this time of year, longer, sunny days may mean we might be tempted to stay up later than usual. Hot and sticky weather can also prevent you from falling into a deep slumber. Try making your bedroom summer-friendly by keeping it cool with a fan or open window, hanging lightblocking curtains, and relaxing before bed by putting away your phone and reading a few pages of a new book.
- Healthy diet – Whilst it is healthy to maintain a balanced diet all year round a new season brings new foods and recipes. Take advantage of the different fruit and vegetables that are in season during spring and summer. You’ll be able to enjoy delicious foods such as spinach, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, watercress, asparagus and rhubarb.
- Staying hydrated – During the summer, our bodies try to cool down through the natural process of sweating, which in turn can cause dehydration. This makes it essential for us to drink more water, as less water content in the body can lead to various ailments. You may find this handy hydration tool useful – https://www.hydrationforhealth.com/en/hydration-tools/hydration-calculator/
- Exercise – Regular exercise is a great way to maintain positive mental and physical wellbeing. With summer here we may now be more encouraged to train outdoors. Consider working out with a partner or another member of your household (check COVID-19 guidelines for your area first) as working out with somebody can be great for boosting your motivation and also output in your activity.
- Connecting with others – is a great way to stay on top of our mental wellbeing. Social connection can lower anxiety and depression, help us regulate our emotions, lead to higher self-esteem and empathy, and improve our immune system.
- Try your hand at Mindfulness – Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is a quality that every person already possesses and you just have to learn how to access it. If you don’t know where to start you might find this link useful – https://www.mindful.org/how-to-meditate/
- Be kind – When we practice kindness either to other people or towards ourselves we can experience positive mental and physical changes through lowering stress levels and increasing the body’s production of feel-good hormones such as dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin. Whether it’s a smile, a thank you, a compliment or larger acts such as volunteering at your local community centre, acts of kindness and generosity can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.
How can Care first help?
If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services.
Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.
All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.
If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Top tips to look after your overall wellbeing” This is being delivered live on Thursday 24th June at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session –
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/5662750280917718800
If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.